I’m a big fan of Helena Hunting’s books, especially when I want a lighter, sweet romance with dual POVs. Starry-Eyed Girl was the perfect sequel to When Sparks Fly (though can be read as a standalone) and was exactly the book I needed.

The Spark sisters- London, Avery and Harley- own and run a boutique hotel in Colorado that has been in the family for generations. This story focuses on London who takes care of the business and administration side of the hotel but also sells centerpieces on the side on her successful Etsy page. After a totally awkward meet cute, London runs into Jackson Holt, a guy she rejected once, months later when pitching a deal on behalf of the hotel. What starts off as strictly business turns into something more as the two get to know each other and bring out their best sides.

This story was really sweet! The characters were flawed in all the right ways and easy to connect with. I loved how Jackson pushed London outside her comfort zone and encouraged her to do things that made her happy and not just her sisters. Having two sisters myself, I love stories that stress sibling dynamics and potential conflicts that may arise when you are so close to your family. I liked the chapters that focused on the inner workings of the boutique hotel and all that the Spark sisters do to make it run successful as well as the side plot where the hotel business was booming and they had to figure out what to do to find a work/ life balance. Also, I really enjoyed how the conflict was handled. The main characters acted maturely and communicated with each other rather than listen to outside influences, which was tempting. This perspective felt fresh. On the flip side, I will say that Avery really bothered me in this book. I know she was just a side character and understand where she was coming from but it irked me at times.

I did a read/audio combo for this one and enjoyed the narration.

Read if you like:
🏨 Workplace romance
💸Millionaire hero
👯‍♀️ Sisterhood
🎤Event planning
📚Series that follow siblings
📖Helena Hunting books

Thanks St. Martins Press for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date 5/10/22

Starry-Eyed Love was such a sweet read. London Sparks is not looking for love when she’s hit on at the bar with her sisters, but she’s taken with the stranger who tries to ask her out. Months later, she’a presented with a chance to help her and her sister’s hotel partner with a multi-million dollar company, only the CEO is no other than Jackson Holt, the man from the bar. I love a good fated story, and this book felt like a modern sweeping fairytale romance. I loved London and Jackson as they tried to stay professional while also falling head over heels for each other. I feel like at times Jackson gave some mixed signals to London and wasn’t the best communicator, but London was so endearing and kind. But I did love the tension building as the two wanted so much to be together but wanted to keep their business deal too. I had some trouble with the sister communication—Avery, who is the lead of When Sparks Fly, which I didn’t read, was so frustrating, but I loved the younger sister Harley and can’t wait for more of her hopefully! And I loved seeing some callback characters from Helena Hunting’s past series! But back to Jackson and London. While some conflict felt a little too much, they were romantic and sweet. I loved Jackson’s dedication to London and helping her, and London just really came out of her shell with Jackson. I loved the dual perspectives too, it added so much to the story! It was so sweet and super steamy, and I just had a lot of fun listening to this audiobook!

I have enjoyed 2/3 Helena Hunting books that I have read (now 3/4!) so I was excited to see the audio for this pop up on NetGalley. I enjoyed the narrators and was pleasantly surprised by the male narrators deep voice.
I liked the first book When Sparks Fly fairly well. Not my fave romance but I remember liking it overall. Avery, the mc from that book was kind of awful in this one. I don’t remember her sucking so much but she was not great to her sisters in this book. I really enjoyed the depth of Avery and Declan in that book and the work they put in to their relationship. I guess I just feel like she was a different character in this even thought she wasn’t the main character this time.
I quite enjoyed London as a main character. She felt relatable and was likeable as a heroine. Her romance with Jackson was very insta-love but I wasn’t mad about it. They were cute together. It wasn’t amazing or anything but I did enjoy myself listening to this.
The romance is open door and there are a few spicy moments in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Griffin, and Macmillan audio for the advance copy of the audiobook. Release date is 5/10!
I will post on Instagram @katebrownreads as well. Will update with a link once posted.

Starry Eyed Love was such a sweet story. It has a slow burn with all of the passionate romantic scenes you start to crave when the two main characters come together. London is a middle sister and trying to balance work life, family matters, a recent break up and her own small business when she first meets Jackson. She leaves it to fate when she initially rejects him. Fate would bring them back together and a professional relationship eventually turns romantic. This is a great story where you are rooting for the main characters but also realizing sometimes things of the past could keep two people apart.

Starry - Eyed Love -

While this book had its romance, I felt like I loved this book more for London as a person over a couple. I adored how strong she was, she worked hard, she wanted to do right for others, all while struggling to find her way through the Spark House. I enjoyed watching her grow through this story.

This was a very emotional book for me. I hated that it made me cry but that's when you know you've connected. There are also your typical hilarious moments from Helena and the detail she gives that makes you feel like you're in the story.

SPOILER ALERT : You get a glimpse of the Mills Boys and all three wonderful Mills ladies. <3

Jason Clarke and Stella Bloom do another fantastic job narrating together. I do wish there were more Jason Clarke however, I think it would have taken away from what I needed from London.

I adored When Sparks Fly, so I was extremely excited for this return to Spark House and to see the Spark sisters again.

London made a great main character. In the first book, I was charmed by the way she calmed her anxiety by folding little stars (just like the ones pictured!). She then turned this quirk into a thriving little Etsy business. She is such a creative and resourceful character, and it was fun to read things from her point of view.

We got a few chapters from Jackson’s POV, just enough to show his side of things. At one point I wasn’t sure how the author was going to explain away his indescretions, but it all worked out in the end.

I was a little sad to see Avery slightly villainized in this book, since I loved her so much in When Sparks Fly. Had I read this one first, I might not have wanted to read her love story. It’s not a big plot point, but she’s kind of selfish and controlling to her sisters with regards to their business. I will say though that these sisters improved their relationship a lot by the end of the book.

I read the first half of this book in an ebook and listened to the audiobook of the second half. The audiobook production brought so much more to the experience. I liked the narrators for both London and Jackson. Listening is always so much more of an immersive experience!

Starry-Eyed Love was a great continuation of the series, and I’m looking forward to Harley’s love story to close it out!

Book 2 in the Spark House series, works as a stand-alone

Fresh off a breakup, a man approaches London in a bar and asks her on a date. She declines. Months later, Spark House has the opportunity to be part of a new initiative and while pitching their company, who walks in but Jackson- the man from the bar. They are pulled to each other and struggle to maintain a business relationship. When they finally give in, things aren't easy.

I did enjoy this, as I have enjoyed every book by Helena Hunting that I've read, but I did feel it focused a bit too much on Spark House and not enough on London and Jackson. Granted, they are intertwined, but I'd have like more of their relationship.

It was nice to be back in the world of the Spark sisters again, although Avery was pretty insufferable in this book. I look forward to Harley's book!

I listened to the audio version of the book. My only complaint was that far too few chapters were read by Jason Clarke, lol. (I love when he narrates!)

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.